GENERATION PERMUTATION SYMMETRY AND THE QUARK MIXING MATRIX

We propose a new discrete symmetry in the generation space of the fundamental fermions, consistent with the observed fermion mass spectrum. In the case of the quarks, the symmetry leads to the unique prediction of a flat CKM matrix at high energy. We explore the possibility that evolution due to quantum corrections leads to the observed hierarchical form of the CKM matrix at low energies.